WO2003099076A1

WO2003099076A1 - Child airline seating safety restraint

Info

Publication number: WO2003099076A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/013726
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Forlivio
Original assignee: Joseph Forlivio
Priority date: 2002-05-10
Filing date: 2003-05-01
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Also published as: AU2003239339A1

Abstract

A child restraint device (10) for restraining a child on a first seat (12) in a passenger vehicle, with a second seat (20) of the passenger vehicle including a back portion (18) and a tray (16) extending therefrom toward the first seat (12). The child restraint device (10) has a base (22), a holding member (24), and a child restraint member (26). The holding member (24) is attached to the base (22), and includes at least one channel element comprising arms (50-56) having a channel with the tray (16) disposed therein. The child restraint member is attached to the base (22), and includes a plurality of arms (62-66) flanking the child.

Description

CHILD AIRLINE SEATING SAFETY RESTRAINT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to child restraints, and in particular to a child seating safety restraint for use in travel on airplanes, on trains, and on buses.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Car seats for children are known in the art and are often a requirement under law, to enhance the safety of children during travel. Such car seats are typically shaped and oriented to engage the seat belts of automobiles, such as sash-type seat belts, and to fit into the shape of seats of the automobile. Accordingly, most car seats are configured to be positioned in the rear seats of automobiles where sash-type seat belts are provided.

[0003] However, known car seats are not readily adaptable to other methods of travel for passenger transports, such as airplanes, trains, buses, and other multi-passenger and commuter vehicles. For example, the seat belts of such passenger transports typically have lap-type seat belts instead of sash-type seat belts. In addition, passenger transports typically have arm rests which do not permit known car seats to fit adjacent to the arm rests. Although some arm rests in passenger transports can be rotated to an upright position to permit more room on the seat, the installation of a car seat in such a setting reduces room for other transport.

[0004] Furthermore, such passenger transports typically have retractable trays extending from the back portion of a seat facing a passenger. However, if a car seat is positioned in the seat of a passenger transport, such trays cannot be properly deployed in front of the child if the child is seated in the car seat, since the tray cannot be placed in a full horizontal position, and so the tray can be situated in a dangerous orientation against the child and/or the car seat so positioned in the seat of the passenger transport. [0005] A need exists for a child seating safety restraint device which can be readily inserted and removed from the seat of a passenger transport, which can fit into any known seats of passenger transports, and which can also engage a serving tray extending from, and fixed to the rear of a seat in front of the seat in which the child is positioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A child restraint device for restraining a child on a first seat in a passenger vehicle, with a second seat of the passenger vehicle including a back portion and a tray extending therefrom toward the first seat. The child restraint device has a base, a holding member, and a child restraint member. The holding member is attached to the base, and includes at least one channel element for receiving an edge of the tray disposed therein. The child restraint member is attached to the base, and includes a plurality of arms flanking respective sides of the child. [0007] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the inventive child restraint device in perspective, side, top, and cross-sectional views, respectively.

[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates the use of VELCRO and other hook-and- loop fasteners for removably inserting and securing a smaller cushioned portion into the child restraint device as shown in FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the child restraint device, which includes hinges to be collapsible and in a more compact form. [0010] FIG. 7 illustrates the use of an elongated channel in the child restraint device for engaging an edge of the tray, and optional straps to attach to the seatbelts of the seat of the passenger transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0011] As illustrated in the various views of FIGS. 1-4 showing perspective, side, top, and cross-sectional views, respectively, a child safety restraining device 10 is configured to be positioned on the seat 12 upon which a child 14 sits as passenger on a vehicle, such as passenger transports including multi-passenger and/or commuter vehicles. Such passenger transports can include, but are not limited to, airplanes, such as jet airliners or propeller-based commuter planes; trains such as long distance and/or high-speed commuter rails including Amtrak or other national and international railways; buses, such as "GREYHOUND" or short-line ground buses between cities or between airport extend from a position in front of the device 10, such as the back 18 of a seat 20 in front of the seat 12 of the child 14. In addition, the device 10 can also be utilized in automobiles such as vans or mini- vans having such tray arrangements. [0012] The device 10 includes a base 22, a holding member 24 attached to the base 22, and a child restraint member 26. The base 22 can be a planar element composed of fiberglass, wood, sheet metal, foamed and reinforced plastics, including structural composites and laminates, and other known rigid materials. The base 22 can include at least one aperture through which the legs of the child pass. For example, the base 22 can include three columns 28, 30, 32 forming two separate apertures 34, 36, one aperture per leg of the child 14, with a central column 32 thus preventing the child 14 from slipping through the base 22 and out of the device 10. [0013] For the safety and comfort of the child 14 positioned in the device 10, the base 22 can include smoothed and/or curved surfaces such as curved corners 38, 40, and various portions of the base 22 can be padded. In particular, the top surface 42 and side surfaces 44 of the base 22 and the surfaces 46, 48 forming the apertures 34, 36, respectively, can be padded using fabric, upholstery, polyurethane foam rubber, and/or other known cushioning. [0014] The holding member 24 can be at least one channel element for forming a channel which engages a tray 16 from the seat 20 in front of the device 10. In one exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the at least one channel element can include a plurality of arms 50-56 formed from metal, wood, fiberglass, other plastics, or other types of rigid materials for example, the arms 50-56 can be formed into a U-shape or elongated slotted shape by the bending of a single elongated sheet or strip of aluminum. Welded and extruded channels can also be employed. Other types of metals can also be used, such as stainless steel.

[0015] The holding member 24 shown in FIG. 1 can be dimensioned, for example, to have the arms 50-56 about one inch wide and about one foot long. Alternatively, the arms 50-56 can be about six inches long, providing a sufficient engagement or gripping of the tray edge 16 positioned therebetween, while reducing fabrication costs.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the holding member 24 includes a single channel element 58 composed of, for example, fiberglass, wood, sheet metal, plastics, or other known rigid materials, and having a single channel 60 for engaging the edge of the tray 16 therebetween. The single channel element 58 can be about four inches deep and about one foot wide, providing a single channel in which the tray 16 is received and retained. [0017] The holding member 24, including the at least one channel element thereof, can be secured to the base 22 by any known devices and/or methods, such as nut-and-bolt fasteners, welding, adhesives, etc. Alternatively, the base 22 and the holding member 24 can be integrally formed from a common material, such as metal, plastic, wood, etc.

[0018] The child restraint member 26 includes at least one arm which flanks a respective side of the child 14, to hold the child 14 within a region defined by the child restraint member 26. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, parallelepipeds 62-66 and/or box-like structures having rectangular cross-sections. Alternatively, the child restraint member 26 can be formed from three separate parallelepipeds or box-like structures connected together. A pair 62, 64 of the parallelepipeds can serve as arm rests for the child 14, while the third, intermediate parallelepiped 66 is secured to the base 26. In additional alternative embodiments, the child restraint member 26 and/or the at least one arm 62-66 of the child restraint member 26 may have an elliptical cross-section, such as a circular or oval cross-section, and/or the child restraint member 26 may be curved from an intermediate portion which is attached to the base. Accordingly, toroidal/donut-shaped child restraint members 26, including partial toroidal forms, may be used.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the child restraint member 26 can be padded for the safety and comfort of the child 14, using upholstery 68 and/or a fabric covering surrounding at least a portion, such as an upper portion and side portions, or all of an inner rigid member 70 of the arms 62-66. Such padding can match the color of the underlying seat 12. For example, some airlines and bus companies can use distinctive and/or trademarked color combinations, and so the devices 10 and their associated child restraint member 26 have a matching color scheme to provide an overall color-consistent seating environment to the passengers and/or their children.

[0020] In one embodiment, the child restraint member 26 can have an inner area being about one foot wide for positioning a child therein. Alternatively, the child restraint member 26 can have an inner area being about shown in FIG. 1, a first child restraint member 26 can have an inner area 72 being about one foot wide, with hook-and-link fasteners 74, such as "VELCRO", commercially available from Velcro Industries, for removably fastening to a second child restraint member 76 having a smaller width, a smaller inner area 78, and complementary hook-and-link fasteners 80, to position a child 14 therein and to thus be adjustable to the width of the child 14. Accordingly, any size of child 14, including babies, toddlers, or adolescents, can be safely positioned within the device 10. The cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 5 shows the hook-and-link engagement between the first child restraint member 26 and the second child restraint member 76. In alternative embodiments, other known detachable fasteners such as buttons and snap-in clasps can also be used instead of, or in addition to, hook-and-link fasteners to releasably and removably secure the child restraint members 26, 76 together. [0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 permits the child 14 to be restrained independently of, or in conjunction with seat belts 82 provided with the seat 12 of the passenger transport. The device 10 engages the tray 16 when the tray 16 is in the deployed, horizontal position. In alternative embodiments, the device 10 can include additional components, such as adjustable horizontal legs and/or shock-absorbers, which replace the tray 16 by extending from the rear portion 18 of the second seat 20 to brace the device 10 against the first seat 12 in which the child 14 is seated.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 permits the child 14 to have relatively free arms 84 to eat or to play, unlike known car seats which limit play with a toy 86 on the tray 16 or eat food from the tray 16, or alternatively colorful pictures and shapes can be attached to the base 22, to the holding member 24, and/or to the arms 62-66, for example, in the form of a sheet of plastic and/or thin paper for spills and/or for entertainment with preprinted colors, pictures, and/or advertisements. The paper and/or plastic sheet can be disposable after every stop; for example, between airline flights of the airplane having such devices 10 deployed for child passengers. [0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the holding member 24 has the channel-forming arms 50-56 spaced apart sufficiently to hold the tray 16 therebetween. Greater spacing between the channel-forming arms 50-56 can be provided, or the spacing can be fixed to a predetermined distance, for example, about six inches, to engage a standard-size tray 16. [0024] As described herein, the components of the device 10 can be connected together using known devices or methods. In addition, the connection between components can be removable connections, to secure and remove the components from each other. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 4, bolts 90 can be used to pass through apertures 92 in the base 22 and slots 94 in a portion of the child restraint member 26, such as the intermediate arm 66, to secure the holding member 24 and the child restraint member 26 to the base 22 and/or to each other. The bolts 90 can be round-headed bolts to avoid any sharp edges for the safety of the child 14 and others.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the components can be connected to each other in a hinged arrangement using the be folded substantially parallel to the planar base 22. The hinges 94 can be of any known hinge mechanism, including hinges which can lock or unlock using clasps, buttons, and/or upon experiencing sufficient forces from a user to deploy the device 10 to be in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1-4. In the folded-up position shown in FIG. 6, the device 10 can be readily stored and removed from the overhead compartments or storage areas of the passenger transport, such as luggage racks or shelves in airplanes, trains, or buses. [0026] Alternatively, the passengers can travel with such devices 10 for their children, in the event that the passenger transport does not provide comparable child restraint devices. By being fabricated from light weight materials, such as aluminum or other light yet rigid materials, the device 10 can be readily inserted and removed from seats 12, and optionally folded with hinges 94 for compact carrying into and out of passenger transport including the narrow aisles of airlines and buses.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates the device 10 having an alternative embodiment of the holding member, in the form of an elongated channel 58 extending from the base 22 and engaging the tray 16. In another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the base 22 can include apertures 96 for engaging one or more of the seat belts 82 associated with the seat 12 of the passenger transport, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and/or for retaining at least one strap 98 of a seat belt provided with the device 10. Such straps 98 can also include male and/or female connectors 100 to engage complementary connectors of the seat belts 82 associated with the seat 12. and/or can be composed of multiple interlocking components which can be adjustably secured in different configurations, such as different widths to accommodated different size children.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A device for restraining a passenger in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the passenger seat having a generally horizontal tray forward of the passenger seat and intended for supporting food and the like, the retraining device comprising: a) a base member; b) an attachment device extending forward of said base member for attachment of the base member to the tray; and c) at least a first restraint device extending rearward of said base member for restraining the passenger within predetermined limits of movement.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said base member includes: a panel which assumes a generally vertical orientation when said attachment device is attached to the tray.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the generally vertical panel includes: at least one aperture through which at least one leg of the passenger can extend.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said attachment device includes: at least one pair of elongated parallel members forming at least one channel therebetween, with each elongated member extending generally

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first restraint device includes a cushioned upper surface.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a second restraint device; and a fastening device for mounting said second restraint device to said first restraint device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said fastening device separably holds said second restraint device generally adjacent to the first restraint device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said fastening device includes: a pair of complementary separable fastening members, with a respective fastening member attached to a respective one of said first and second restraint devices, such that said first and second restraint devices are removably attached to each other.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pair of complementary separable fastening members includes: at least first and second hook-and-loop fasteners capable of being separably attached to each other. mounted to said first restraint device; and wherein the second hook-and-loop fastener is mounted to said second restraint device and oriented to engage and to be separably attached to the first hook-and-loop fastener.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising: at least one hinge for foldably attaching said base member to at least one of said attachment devices and said first restraint device, with the at least one hinge capable of deploying said respective attachment member and said first restraint device from a generally vertical folded position to a generally horizontal deployed position.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising: at least one strap attachable to said base member for removably securing said base member to a seat belt associated with said passenger seat.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one strap includes: a first buckle fastening member capable of being removably secured to a complementary second buckle fastening member attached to the seat belt.

14. A device for restraining a child in a first seat in a passenger section in a vehicle, said first seat having a generally horizontal surface for the child to sit on and positioned behind a second seat having a back portion and a tray extendable from the back portion toward said first seat, the restraining device comprising: a base member; a holding member attached to said base member and including: at least one attachment device extending forward of said base member and defining at least one channel for reception of the tray to support said base member firmly in a predetermined position with respect to the tray; and a first child restraint member attached to said base member and extending rearwardly thereof for restraining the child within predetermined limits of movement, including a plurality of arms oriented to surround at least two sides of the child, thereby restraining the child therein.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said base member includes: at least one aperture through which at least one leg of the child can pass.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one attachment device includes: at least one pair of generally horizontally oriented elongated members parallel to each other and forming the at least one channel therebetween, member.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of arms includes a cushioned upper surface.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising: a second child restraint member; and a fastening device for mounting said second child restraint member to said first child restraint member; wherein said first child restraint member is dimensioned to restrain a first child of a first size; and wherein said second child restraint member is dimensioned to restrain a second child of size smaller than the first size.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said fastening device removably mounts said second child restraint member to said first child restraint member.

20. A method for restraining a passenger on a first seat in a passenger vehicle, with a second seat of the passenger vehicle including a back portion and a tray extending therefrom toward the first seat, comprising the steps of: providing a passenger restraint device having: a base member; an attachment device attached to said base member, and a first passenger restraint member attached to said base member, including: a plurality of arms; positioning said at least one channel element about the tray to grip the tray so as to fix the position of said holding member; positioning said base member on the first seat; and positioning the plurality of arms to flank respective sides of the passenger to restrain the passenger on the first seat within limits of movement defined by the plurality of arms.